Illuminated display sign



Feb. 3, 1942. E. M. FRrrz ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN Filed Aug. 30, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 1 /0 ff E F @zu EDWARD M. F/wz y M E 5 Feb. 3, 1942-. E, M,FRlTz 2,271,689

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY VSIGN Filed Agg. 3o, 1939 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 EDWARD/Efe/rz Mgg.

Patented Feb. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE* 'y 2,271,689 iILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN Edward M. Fritz, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignorto Grand Rapids Cabinet Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation ofMichigan Application VAugust 30, 1939, Serial No. 292,603

Claims.

The present invention relates in general to advertising devices and ismore particularly concerned with improvements in illuminated displaysigns, especially signs of this type which may be associated withstorage cabinets such as used for the merchandising and dispensing ofconfections, frozen foods, and the like.

Signs for such purpose have proved desirable not only as a salesstimulus, but also as a convenience to customers. In general, thesesigns as heretofore constructed have embodied aboard or rack mounted onthe top of the storage cabinet adjacent its forward wall. The rack orboard has been arranged for viewing only from the front of the cabinetand has usually embodied a rack which is so constructed as to removablyreceive display pieces'such as individual item strips, price tabs,photographs, and the like. `Display signs constructed in this mannerwhich are visible from only one sideof the cabinet are objectionable inthat they are not adapted for most eiicient use, as, for example, incases where the cabinet might be viewed from either the front or backdue to its being positioned away from the store wall or on an island inthe store.

It has been the general practice to illuminate the display rack by meansof an exterior source of illumination such as electric lamps arranged atthe top of the rack below a reflector. Such illuminating arrangementshave been found to be objectionable inthatshadows are cast on thedisplay pieces with the result that the clearness and legibility mayoftentimes lbe impaired. Moreover, since the electric lamps, which inuse get quite hot, are exposed, theselamps constitute an attractionparticularly to children who are inclined to touch them with their barehands. While the lamps may not cause a serious burn, they aresufficiently hot to startle and frighten the child to the extent thatthe parent or other customers in the store may be objectionablydisturbed and distracted from their shopping activities.

It, therefore, becomes necessary in display signs of the aboveconstruction to provide a separate additional light source on the backof the rack for illuminating the interior of the cabinet when it isopened for the removal of food or other items therefrom, or when placingthe items in the cabinet.

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" utilized not only for the illumination of the display pieces,but whichalso serves to illuminate Y the interior of the storage cabinet when itis Having in mind the foregoing as well as other opened for the removalor placing of foods or other iteins therein.

Still further and other objects are to provide a sign for the hereindescribed purpose, which is pleasing and attractive in appearance, whichis of such construction as to enable its being easily cleaned, which isefficient in operation, and which embodies a novel constructionpermitting its being easily adapted for cabinets of varying length.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment thereof,and in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view showing the display sign of the presentinvention as being applied to a food storage cabinet;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View through the sign,taken substantially on line II-II of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a lower bottomedge of the sign to show its constructional details;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the sign to showthe cooperative relationship between certain of its parts, takensubstantially on line IV-IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through the same,taken substantially on line V-V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the manner in whichthe end wall panels are secured to the end supports, taken substantiallyon line VI-VI of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of a portion of thedisplay sign.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to Figurel, the display sign of the k present invention isdisclosed as being applied to a storage cabinet, as generally indicatedat l0, such as used for the storage ofconfections, frozen foods, and thelike, and for the dispensing and merchandising of such products. As isthe usual practice, such cabinets are providedv with top closure membersor doors I I, which may be opened to permit placing of food into thecabinet or removing it therefrom.

The display sign of the present invention, as generally indicated at I2,comprises in general an upright structure mounted at the forward upperedge on the top of the cabinet adjacent the doors I I. This sign isprovided with display panels wherein photographs of the various foods oritems may be displayed and item strips and price tabs may be mounted ina position where they may be readily and easily viewed "by customers.

More specifically, the present invention embodies right hand and lefthand end members I3 and I4 which are constructed of an enameled surfacematerial. These members are of generally hollow construction and areopen on their inner side faces. The end members, it will be noted, areared towards their bottom ends, and the rearwardly disposed edges at thebottom ends of the members are carried rearwardly, as sh'own at I5, toform a foot portion at the lower end of the member which is adapted toYbe secured to the top of the cabinet as by suitable screws II-IG."

Extending between the upper ends of the end members is a top framemember I1 of generally U-shaped construction, this frame member beingdisposed in inverted position so that it will open downwardly and form achannel extending be- 'i tween the end members.

The lowermost ends of the end members are connected by a U-shaped bottomframe member I8 which is disposed so as to open upwardly. Ad-

jacent the respective end members, the upper and f lower frame membersI1 and I8 are connected by forwardly and rearwardly disposed spacerpanels I9 and 29, which extend inwardly from the end members andcooperate with the frame members I1 and It to define an elongate,substantially rectangular opening 2| in the forward and rear walls ofthe upright structure' I2.

The panels I9 and 20 are in each case provided with upper and lowerprojecting end portions 22 and 23 for making` lapping engagement withthe associated marginal edges of the leg portions of the frame membersI1 and-|53, and may be welded or otherwise secured thereto. The lateraledges of the spacer panels are deflected to form inwardly turned sideflanges 24 and 25, th'e outermost of these flanges being arranged tomake face engagement with securing lugs 2t along the open side 0f theassociated end member, to which the ange may be secured as by suitablebolts 21.

It will be apparent that in the construction thus far described,theparts are rigidly held together and cooperate to forma generallyhollow housing having openings 2I in the forward and rear walls thereof.Since display signs of the type described herein may be used withcabinets of different lengths, the foregoing` construction is admirablyadapted, with only slight changes, to be utilized with dilerentcabinets. In other words, in order to adaptthe housing for a longer orshorter cabinet, it is only necessary to cut the frame members I'Iand I3of proper length and utilize spacer panels of proper width to eilectv anopening 2l i of standard predetermined size.

As shown in Figures 2 and o,A the respective legs ofrthelframe member ISareconnectedat their jointure with' the bottom portion of the member bymeansof internal angle members 23' and 29. Secured -to thee anglemembers 28. and.

29 is a U-shaped channel member 30 having leg portions which cooperatewith the upstanding leg portions of the member I8 to form upwardlyopening grooves 3| along, the bottom of the openings 2I-2I for a purposewhich will later be explained in detail. The member 39 is formed ofsuitable reflecting material.

A plurality'of lamp sockets 3I1l are suitably supported on the member 30in spaced relation behind the wall openings 2I-2I, each of these socketsbeingadapted to receive and operatively supportan electric lamp 32 ofpreferably elongate construction.

Electric service to th'e electric lamps for supplying electricitythereto may be broughtl into the interior of the sign structure throughasuitable conduit 33, and the lamps may be controlled by means of asuitable switch 34 in the electricI circuit. This switch is providedwith an actuating member 35 which preferably extends through one of thespacer'panels so that it may be readily actuated by the cabinetattendant.

Each of the openings 2I is arranged to have a display rack removablysupported therein. This display rack or panel will now be described.

The display rack, as shown inY Figures 2 and 3, comprises a rectangularframe 36 constructed of a channel member which opens inwardly. The frame36'is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending verticallyspaced rail members 31, each of these members being so shaped as to forman upwardly lopening, longitudinally extending groove 38 and adownwardly opening, longitudinally extending groove 39; The members 31`and grooved bushing members 49 at the top and bottom of the frameprovide lsupports for flashed opal glass strips 4| 'having their upperand lower edges disposed in the facing grooves of adjacently disposedrails 31.

While any desired spacing may be utilized between the rails 31, it ispreferred that the lower portion of the frame 36 have the rail members31 rather closely spaced for receiving relatively narrow glass strips 4I and that Vthe upper portion of the frame be arranged to receiverelatively wider glass strips or panels 42.

The frame and rails 31 may be centrally braced, if desired, by means ofa central upright member 43 which may bel secured at its ends to L theupper and lower frame portions and also to the respective cross rails.The upper portion of the frame may be further subdivided by uprightmembers44.

With the frame :it` having the glass panels mounted therein andsubdivided as shown in Figure l, it is proposed to provide translucentphotographs or similar .advertising display media, which may be disposedin the larger areas at the upper portion of the frame, and translucentitem strips, as well as price indicating tabs of translucent material,which may be removably placed in the strip areas at the lower portion ofthe frame.

Both' the photographs and item strips, as well as the price tabs, may besecured in front'of the outer surface of a glass panel or strip in'themanner disclosed in Figures S'and'l. An item strip, as shown at, 45,maybe disposed in d-isplay position simply by transversely bowing thevstrip and `inserting its upper and lower edges in the facing grooves ofadjacent members 31-31- or between a member31 and oneof the bushingsfl,so that the strip or photograph or price tab will overlie the 4glassstrip or panel with which it is associated.

While it is not necessary to provide for ready replacement of the glassstrips or glass panels, such an arrangement may be readily provided byslotting one or both ends of the frame 35, as shown at 45, so as toenable longitudinal withdrawal of the glass strips or panels from theframe or the insertion of new glass strips or panels to replace brokenones.

Provision is made for the ready removal or insertion of the displayframe or rack into display position in the opening 2l. This isaccomplished by making the rack of a height greater than the height ofthe opening and providing resilient clips l1 at spaced intervals in thetop frame member Il. Each of these clips is sub stantially U-shaped withinwardly deflected end portions i3-48, which are adapted to pressagainst the rear upper edge of the forward and rear display racks andforce them outwardly against the legs of member Il, and downwardly L sothat the lower edge of the rack is disposed flush, aligning engagementin the grooves 3 I-Si In order to remove one of the racks from itssupported position, it is only necessary to shift the rack upwardly inan edgewise direction until the lower edge of the rack is free of itsassociated groove, whereupon the bottom edge of the rack may be swungoutwardly and moved downwardly to free the upper edge thereof. The rackmay be easily replaced by reversing this operation. When a display rackis removed, access may be had to the interior of the housing through theopening 2| for replacing burned out lamp bulbs or for other purposes.

It will be apparent that, with a display sign l',

doors Il in the top of the cabinet will serve to illuminate the interiorof the cabinet when the doors are opened, without the necessity ofhaving to provide additional illumination for such purpose.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides an improved illuminated sign having duplicate displaypanels which may be viewed from the front or back of the cabinet; whichembodies a single source of illumination which is not only utilized forilluminating the display panels, but also serves to illuminate theinterior of the cabinet with all) which the sign is associated; in whichthe source of illumination is shielded from contact by customers andchildren; a display sign which is free of objectionable shadows; inwhich the display panels may be readily and easily removed to permitaccess to the source of illumination, when desired; which may be readilyadapted for storage cabinets of different lengths; and which is pleasingin appearance and may be kept in a clean and attractive condition.

It is, of course, to be understood that, although I have described indetail the preferred embodiment of my invention, the invention is not tobe thus limited but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit ofthe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1.v In a device of the character described, a pair of end membersadapted for securing in an upright position to the top of a storagecabinet, upper and lower rail members extending between the end members,end upright wall panels adjacent the end members respectively secured attheir upper and lower ends to the rail members, means removablyconnecting the panels to their adjacent end-members, said panels andrails cooperating to dene an opening, and a display panel removablysupported in said opening.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of end members adaptedfor securing in an upright position tothe top of a storage cabinet,upper and lower rail members extending between the end members, spacedupright forward and rear wall panels connected to each end member'andthe associated rails, said panels and rails co-operating to form forwardand rear openings, and forward and rear display panels respectivelyremovably supported in said open 1ngs.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of end members adaptedfor securing in an upright position to the top of a storage cabinet,upper and lower rail members extending between the end members, spacedupright forward and rear wall panels connected to each end member andthe associated rails, said panels and rails cooperating to form forwardand rear openings, forward and rear translucent display panelsrespectively removably supported in said openings with a spacetherebetween, and a com mon light source behind the display panels insaid space.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of end members adaptedfor securing in an upright position to the top of a storage cabin nethaving a plurality of top access openings, upper and lower rail membersextending between the end members adjacent said openings, upright wallpanels adjacent the end members connected to the end members andassociated rails, said y panels and rails cooperating to define anopening adjacent the cabinet top access openings, a translucentdisplaypanel in said opening, and a light source behind the translucent panelpom sitioned to emit rays therethrough and into the interior of thecabinet through its access openings.

5. In a display device of the character described, a hollow uprightframe structure defining spaced walls having opposed openings therein,an upwardly opening groove adjacent the bottom of each opening,translucent display panel inserts for respectively closing saidopenings, each of said panels'when disposed with its upper edge marginbehind the wall at the top of its associated opening being upwardlyshiftable edgewise to enable disposition and seating of its lower edgemargin in the groove at the bottom of the opening, and a retainingmember common to said panels having yieldable end portions, said endportions being angularly disposed relative to the faces of said paneland respectively associated with the rear upper edge margins of thepanels for pressing the same laterally against their associated wallsand deflecting the same downwardly so that the lower edge thereof is ina completely seated portion in the upwardly opening groove.

EDWARD M. FRITZ.

